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The Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities
Study (MADDS) was the first U.S., population-based epidemiologic study
of the prevalence of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing loss,
vision impairment, and epilepsy in school-aged children.
The MADDS was conducted as a cooperative agreement
between the Division of
Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources, the former
Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, National
Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
PURPOSES:
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To develop methods for the surveillance of
developmental disabilities.
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To establish prevalence rates of five
developmental disabilities: mental retardation, cerebral palsy,
vision impairment, hearing loss, and epilepsy.
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To generate hypotheses for further study of risk
factors for these five disabilities.
WHERE: Five counties in metropolitan Atlanta:
Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett
WHO: Children born in 1975, 1976, 1977; ascertained at
age 10 years, in school years 1985-1986, 1986-1987, and 1987-1988
Population statistics for metropolitan Atlanta
(1985-1987): Ten-year-old children: Total 89,534
SOURCES OF CASE ASCERTAINMENT:
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State of Georgia Department of Education - Nine
public school systems
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Department of Human Resources
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Georgia Learning Resources System
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Georgia Psychoeducational Centers
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State Schools
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Private Agencies
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Hospitals/Clinics
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Early Intervention Programs
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CDC-Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects
Program
DEFINITIONS:
Developmental Disabilities
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Group of severe chronic conditions, attributable
to an impairment in physical, cognitive, speech or language,
psychologic, or self-care areas.
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Manifested during developmental period (up to
18-21 years of age).
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Estimated to affect about 10% of school-aged
children.
Mental Retardation
Intelligence quotient of 70 or less on the most recent
psychometric testing performed by a psychometrist (standardized
psychological tests)
Cerebral Palsy
Inclusive term that describes a group of
nonprogressive disorders occurring in young children in which
abnormalities of the brain cause impairment of motor function. The
impairment of motor function may result in paresis, involuntary
movement, or incoordination. Motor disorders that are transient,
disorders that result from progressive diseases of the brain, and motor
disorders due to spinal cord abnormalities or injuries are not included.
Hearing Loss
A bilateral, pure-tone hearing loss that averages 40
dB or worse unaided in the better ear at frequencies of 500, 1000, and
2000 Hz (normal speech range).
Vision Impairment
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A measured visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the
better eye with correction, or
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A description of visual acuity that reflects
20/200 or worse (e.g., light perception only), or
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A statement by a trained person (e.g.,
ophthalmologist, optometrist, etc.) that a child is blind.
Epilepsy
A condition characterized by recurrent (two or more)
epileptic seizures, unprovoked by any immediate cause. Multiple seizures
occurring in a 24 hour period are considered a single episode.
Individuals who have had only febrile seizures or only neonatal seizures
are excluded.
PUBLICATIONS
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities (NCBDDD) staff have written scientific papers using
information from MADDS. These papers look at such topics as how
common autism spectrum disorders are and what causes hearing loss in
children. You can see a list of these papers (starting in 1990) by
using the keyword search on the NCBDDD publications Web page.
Choose "MADDS (Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Study)"
in the keyword box on the search page. You can choose whether you
want the list to be sorted by author or by date. You can also
choose to have the list appear with or without graphics. Click on
the Submit button. You will see a list of papers that have
information from MADDS. The list will include the complete
reference for each paper and a link to an abstract of the paper or to
the full text, when available. [Go
to NCBDDD publications keyword search page]
Date: October 29, 200
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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